Jim Black Resigns

Former state House Speaker Jim Black resigned from the legislature today, a day after The Charlotte Observer reported he will plead guilty to a federal corruption charge.

Black’s replacement as speaker, Orange County Democratic Representative Joe Hackney, says Black told him this week he planned to plead guilty to the federal corruption charge.

Black’s resignation letter was read by a clerk of the House during the chamber’s afternoon floor session.

The Mecklenburg County Democrat was not in chamber when the letter was read. It did not address a report in Wednesday’s editions of the Observer that he will plead guilty on Thursday to one count of accepting illegal gratuities. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 dollars.

We'll bring you the latest from the courtroom, Thursday on WITN-7 News starting at 5 p.m.

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